Taken by You Read Online Free

noxious cloud of choking smoke brought Morgan’s wayward thoughts under control.
    “Captain, the ship’s sinking fast! All hands are aboard the Avenger and awaiting us.” Crawford’s voice held a note of desperation.
    “Coming, Mr. Crawford!” Morgan called back.
    “On your feet,” Morgan barked as he grasped Luca’s arm and hauled her bodily from the cabin.
    “Leave me,” Luca insisted. “I’ll take my chances with the survivors. I have no ransom value, it will earn you naught to take me with you. I am but a poor nun.”
    Morgan’s cold blue eyes traveled the length of her body, boldly assessing her worth. “Perhaps I have something else in mind for you.”
    Luca sucked in a ragged breath. Did he mean to rape her despite her claim of being a virtuous nun? Would he pass her on to his men when he finished with her? For the space of a heartbeat she considered throwing herself into the sea to escape the terrible fate that awaited her on this Devil’s ship.
    Her conjecturing came to an abrupt halt when the deck tilted violently and she fell against Morgan. Cursing violently, he swept her off her feet and flung her over his shoulder like a sack of flour. Sprinting from the cabin and across the sloping deck, he approached the rail, where Mr. Crawford waited for him. Luca cried out in alarm when Morgan effortlessly leaped across the expanse of water separating the two ships, landing lightly on the deck of the Avenger. Mr. Crawford followed close on his heels.
    Once they stood safely on the deck of the Avenger the sails caught the wind, carrying them away from the burning Santa Cruz. Luca’s last glimpse of the sinking ship was of Captain Ortega and the surviving crew working feverishly to lower the longboat before the ship disappeared beneath the dark, swirling waves.

Chapter 2
    Aboard the Avenger
    M organ didn’t dare release his hold on die trembling nun for fear she’d sacrifice herself to the sea. He had no idea why he cared, but he did. She was Spanish, and he despised her for that. Perhaps he should have left her aboard die sinking Santa Cruz, he reflected, since obviously she had no ransom value. His rather discerning testes did not run to innocent members of a religious order. Logic told him he should give her to his men for sport and feel no guilt. But a spark of decency, instilled in him long ago by his parents, prevented him from doing so. She was far too fragile to survive even one night of rough handling.
    “I am Captain Morgan Scott,” Morgan said as he dragged Luca across the deck. “You are aboard die Avenger and at my mercy.”
    “Wh-where are you taking me?” Luca asked, cringing beneath Morgan’s devilish grin.
    “To my cabin.”
    Luca balked, pulling against die force of Morgan’s unrelenting grip. “No!”
    “Aye, Sister, or whatever you call yourself. You will be safer there than out here. My crew are good men, but they hate die Spanish as much as I do. The drab rags you wear will not save you from them. If you speak English, I suggest you do so. Hearing your accursed language spoken aboard an English snip will likely incite them to violence.”
    With little effort Morgan dragged Luca across the deck to his cabin beneath the quarterdeck. Pulling open the door, he shoved her inside. He followed, closing the door behind him and leaning against it. He stared at her, his penetrating gaze as merciless as a sword thrust.
    “What in God’s name am I going to do with you, Sister Luca?” Morgan mused thoughtfully. “Shall I give you to my men to sport with? I assure you they would be most grateful. Perhaps,” he continued in a voice so low and raspy it sent chills down Luca’s spine, “I might find some use for you in my bed.” Unexpectedly his eyes kindled, excited by the thought of tumbling the sultry beauty who claimed to be a nun.
    “Why didn’t I listen to Father Sebastian?” Luca lamented, wringing her hands in despair. “He told me it would be better to kill myself than